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Wildlife Emergency
Infant Mammal Emergency
Each spring and summer, wildlife centers receive hundreds of infant
mammals brought in by caring, well meaning people.
Unfortunately, most often these "abandoned babies" are in fact
healthy infants. It is natural, particularly for prey species,
to leave their offspring for hours at a time, while out foraging for
food. Since they cannot protect their infants from predators,
it is safer not to advertise their presence by constant attendance
at the nest.
If you see an infant mammal that you suspect is injured, sick, or
orphaned take a moment to carefully observe the situation and keep
the following in mind:
- Do you see any obvious signs of injury? Is the animal
bleeding or shivering, or do you see signs of broken or dislocated
limbs?
- Has the animal been attacked by a cat or dog?
- Is there a visible nest in the area that is either intact or
that has been disturbed?
If the nest is intact and the baby is not injured use a towel,
t-shirt, blanket, or gloves to return the infant to its nest.
Most mammal parents will not reject an infant because you have
touched it, but they may abandon an infant if you remain too close
or have kept the infant away too long. The best place for an
infant mammal is with its wild parents!
Leave the infant and watch the area closely for 4 to 6 hours if
the parents return the infant will be fine.
If you see signs that the infant has been injured or the parents
have not returned please contact the Wildlife In Need Center
at (262) 968-5075 with your observations to decide with the help of
a wildlife rehabilitator what your next action step should be.
Click below for specifics on each type of
infant mammal. |
